The full definition
Every US state operates a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program that records dispensed controlled substance prescriptions. Many states (New York, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Minnesota, and others) mandate that prescribers check the PDMP before prescribing controlled substances — checking that no other prescriber has recently written for the same drug, or that the patient hasn't filled the same prescription elsewhere.
Why it matters in practice
PDMP integration inside ePrescribe is now considered table-stakes for behavioral health, addiction treatment, and pain management practices. Manually logging into a separate state PDMP portal during the prescribing flow is friction that leads to missed checks and compliance violations.
Real-world examples
- A psychiatrist checking PDMP before prescribing a new patient Adderall
- An addiction treatment provider checking PDMP before initiating buprenorphine
- A pain physician checking PDMP for opioid history before refills
Inside Velant
Velant ePrescribe includes automatic PDMP lookup in state-mandated jurisdictions — the check happens inline during prescribing without leaving the chart.
Related terms
- EPCS (Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances)A DEA-regulated electronic prescribing standard for Schedule II–V controlled substances, requiring identity proofing, two-factor authentication, and audit logging of every prescription event.
- DEA 1311 (21 CFR Part 1311)The DEA regulation governing electronic prescribing of controlled substances, including identity proofing, two-factor authentication, biometric standards, hardware token requirements, and audit logging.
- SurescriptsThe dominant US e-prescription network, connecting approximately 1.7 million prescribers to 67,000 pharmacies — essentially the only path to send e-prescriptions in the United States.